When you find out about the upcoming Safdie Brothers film, “Uncut Gems,” your first reaction is probably, “Wait a second, this stars Adam Sandler?” You wouldn’t be wrong with being a bit taken aback by the fact that Sandler, who hasn’t done a true dramatic role in a number of years, and has recently been starring in some not-so-great Netflix comedy films, is the star of the hard-boiled thriller about a jeweler that finds himself in way over his head in New York City.
But according to a new interview with EW, the Safdie Brothers and Sandler explained why the actor is perfect for the role and why the film benefits from his inclusion.
“We grew up with him, and his work was so important to us,” Josh Safdie said. “Like every comedian, he has an incredible sense of timing, and this performance is so much about timing. If everyone can just accept that he’s a great actor, that he’s the only person who could make those great, iconic movies — no one else could make ‘Happy Gilmore,’ only Adam Sandler.”
The filmmaker continued by explaining that Sandler’s stand-up background helped a lot with the filming of scenes from ‘Gems.’
“[Stand-up is] about hitting beats, beats that you know are the backbone,” added the director. “But then watching him as a performer find ways to inject improvisation into those lines… It’s a very human, raw place to be, to put yourself out there like that.”
And according to Sandler, he really did put himself out there. Especially physically. The actor explained that the Safdies put his body through the wringer, making him get manhandled by other performers, who are all trying to show the brutality that the character Howard experiences over a few days.
“These boys went at me pretty good,” said Sandler. “They beat me up I’d say maybe 120 different angles worth.”
“All three of the guys who are manhandling Sandler, this is the first movie they’ve done, you know?” co-director Benny Safdie said. “So they’re very professional, but when it’s your first time… He literally looked like a cheetah afterwards, just blacks spots all the way up and down his arms.”
Sandler admits that even with all the literal pain of shooting “Uncut Gems,” he’d still love to work with the Safdies again.
“We talk about it constantly, man,” the actor said. “I love these guys, love ‘em. [So] of course I would die to work with them again, because it’s a brand-new feeling. They really are incredible at what they do. But the funniest thing is when I would say to them, ‘Your future is so bright,’ they didn’t want to talk about that. They were so deep in it. They were like, ‘I just like Gems, man.’”
“Uncut Gems” arrives in theaters on December 13.